Speaking UP!

Living with a bowel disorder is not easy. In fact, it can be downright awful at times. Besides the obvious physical discomfort, emotional stress is rampant. As an ambassador for those suffering with fecal incontinence and a support group facilitator for those with bowel disorders, the theme of negativity around incontinence is a prevalent one. In fact, I urge you, if you are NOT suffering with incontinence, to imagine a day when you may be. Can you imagine how incontinence would impact your daily life? I wrote about my experiences in-depth in this post here. Can you imagine how leakage, urgency, physical pain in the rectal region, would change your outlook on your day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute happenings?

Remaining positive when dealing with your own bowel disorder is difficult. Oftentimes, bowel disorders lead to increased isolation, as the individual suffering refuses to share such personal information, and/ or feels uncomfortable leaving familiar areas. Often, people go years, even decades, before opening up about their incontinence to anyone, including health professionals. This suffering in silence wears down a person, physically and mentally.

It’s time, as a society, to stop being afraid of talking about fecal incontinence. Let’s not allow “pooping your pants” to be a punchline. It’s time to create a safe space to identify, share, and discuss incontinence. Only then, will people truly seek the treatment they need, and deserve. And, guess what, I don’t mind starting the conversation.